Natalia LaRoche studied Russian Language and Literature at the Teacher Training Institute, and Art Theory and Art Instruction at the Mari State University.  Natalia worked for ten years teaching art to elementary age children in Russia before coming to the United States. Natalia also has an Early Childhood Education background and 19 years of art teaching experience. Over the years, she has developed her own, unique teaching method and has developed the current art programs at TRIS for primary-age students. Natalia started teaching at the Toddler and Preschool levels at TRIS in 2000. 

Robin Bernstein was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri and holds a BA from Macalester College and an MFA in Painting and Drawing from The San Francisco Art Institute. She has taught art to adults and children for over 25 years in many different settings. She joined TRIS in 2005. Robin is also a professional artist and has exhibited her work throughout her career. Her passion as an arts educator includes a high level of commitment to bringing visual literacy to everyone she teaches. Robin’s goal at TRIS is that each student who completes the visual arts program will experience, understand, and appreciate art, art history, the art traditions of many cultures, crafts and handiwork, as well as self-expression. Robin finds inspiration for her art and for her teaching from many sources, including living in rural Canyon, Calif., and traveling to unusual places from history, as well as those associated with the political climate of our time.